Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Chelsea offers John Mikel Obi for sale

The days of Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, at his Premier League club, Chelsea, is numbered as the outfit is seeking to offload him.

Mikel has been a regular feature on Blues' line up since arriving the club in 2005 but his playing time has been impaired lately with the emergence of certain Oriol Romeu.

The Spanish starlet has really limited the playing time of the Nigerian midfielder this season because coach Andre Villa-Boas has considered him as an integral part of his long-term plan.

According to the Express Chelsea are ready to splash the cash as Stamford Bridge owner, Roman Abramovich, looks to flex his financial muscles and attempt to push his West London club onwards and upwards towards both Man City and Man United at the top of the Premier League.

Despite Villas-Boas's fairly average performance as Blues boss, the young Portuguese manager will be handed funds to mount significant raids to land four top class players either next month or more likely in the summer.

To help make way for new additions, Villas-Boas will apparently listen to offers for seven of his first team squad.

Among those said to be on their way are John Obi Mikel, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Alex and Florent Malouda. There is also growing speculation that midfielder and fan favourite Frank Lampard may seek to leave after being told that he wasn't guaranteed first team football.

Chelsea boss, Villas-Boas, is looking to reverse the ageing nature of the club's squad and has brought in youngsters like Romelu Lukaku, Juan Mata and Romeu and has trusted more to youthful members of the squad he inherited, the most prominent example of which has seen youngster, Daniel Sturridge, go from strength to strength.

Chelsea owner, Abramovich, will reportedly hand Villas-Boas £150 million to invest in the following four players.